Khmer new years coming
Khmer New Years is upon us. This is the third new year we get to celebrate. This one with water and stuff and a lot going on downtown we will not end up doing. It mostly is a time for families to get back together, enjoy some food, drink too much beer and shoot people with water guns, hoses, whatever. Not a big fan of some of it so we do not go downtown these next days. The big thing I guess for me is today I will enjoy going to Spring Coffee this morning and then getting a new pair of walking shoes later. There's not much ever I want. I can pass on nice clothes, jewelry, cars and other crap. I don't do watches either. Never have liked them. My iPhone does a nice job telling me what time it is. I think sometimes if I could turn off the clock on the iPhone I'd be happier. I guess in a mark of rebellion or really not caring, we do not have a single clock or 2026 calendar in the house. This results sometimes in my wife losing track of what day it is. I think that's what life should really be about. This losing track of time. Let it go. It never was meant to manage us.
There is no real sense of time here compared to how we did it in America. Time there is king. Life is judged by measures of time first. I wonder how much Americans spend on time. Time management, attempts to budget it, control it, list it, account for it. It's a waste. A waste of time. Time most likely does not exist so all your feeble lists and software means squat. Sorry. Not sorry.
So what does count? Moments. Spend on moments, memories, and experiences. Let them take your life to new places.
so what to do for new years?
My wife rushes to the local market to get bananas and stuff for the shrine to welcome in the new year. I sometimes feel this pull toward Buddhist things over most others. Here in Cambodia, the vast majority of people are Buddhist so it creates this different and rather peaceful vibe of life. No one is denied their calling though. Down the street is a mosque and not far is a church. No one is really questioned about what thing they associate with.
Other things to do sometimes is have family over. It used to be my daughter and her family here would come over. There has been a cosmic rift in the force there for whatever reason. I call it drama. There is an amount of drama here that seems to come up when it is least wanted or desired. I've been a victim and caused some. My ignorance or temperament about certain others of my wife's family and friends. Some I will not have around me due to a variety of issues. Others I have chosen after meeting them I could not take them. This caused a rift in the force. My daughter here understands. My wife perhaps gets it but people have asked why so and so is not over for new year or a dinner party or whatever. I don't know what she tells them. I would tell them the truth but that is also drama.
In other news
And there is other news. Little local tidbits of things. Today I will walk over to Spring Coffee and I am hoping they will have almond croissants ready to heat up for me. I have not been sleeping well lately. So I spoil myself with nice walks earlier in the morning, stops at favored places for coffee, and sometimes fresh cut mango from a street vendor. So I think I will drift off here until I actually make it to Spring Coffee and then do some word things then. I have more to say. Always have more. Every day is full of hours and some words here and there.
I made it. Been thinking on life here lately after watching the video other day. It truly bothered me to see what people go through. It's not about Cambodia or the people here. It's about us expats and others still living in their home country. I hesitate to call it "home". America has not felt like that for 10 years to me. It's easier if someone asks to say Siem Reap is my home. It feels better. Then I can visit this temple. This place so close yet it feels thousands of miles away. I cannot go now but soon I'll go back and spend time sitting there. Feeling some warmth and peace.
